Minnesota Veteran News

Wounded Service Members and Their Families Now Eligible for a Free Week-long Retreat

ALEXANDRIA, VA, April 9, 2007 - The National Military Family Association (NMFA) is now accepting applications for a free getaway vacation for wounded service members and their families. Working in partnership with The Blewitt Foundation, NMFA will select participants to embark on Destination R&R.

The Blewitt Foundation created Destination R&R to honor the sacrifice of wounded service members and their families and to provide them with the opportunity for family rejuvenation and fun. The first Destination R&R retreat will be held this summer, from August 5 to 9, at the Turf Valley Resort, near Baltimore, MD. It will focus on fun for all ages and enable sharing, connecting and healing for families.

This pilot event is The Blewitt Foundation's first initiative to support military families experiencing severe injury or illness of their service member. Destination R&R is a unique program that serves the family as a group, at no cost. All expenses will be paid for the selected participants, including travel.

This retreat is offered to service members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who were wounded or experienced emotional trauma or illness related to their service in the Global War on Terror. Members of the National Guard and Reserve in either activated or drilling status are eligible, provided their injury was sustained while on active duty or training.

Apply now. Applications are only accepted online, www.nmfa.org/destinationRR, and must be submitted by midnight May 4, 2007.

About NMFA

The National Military Family Association is the only national organization whose sole focus is the military family and whose goal is to influence the development and implementation of policies that will improve the lives of the families of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For nearly 40 years, its staff and volunteers, comprised mostly of military family members, have built a reputation for being the leading experts on military family issues. Visit www.nmfa.org/ for more information.

About The Blewitt Foundation

The Blewitt Foundation's primary mission is to provide special comfort, enjoyment and enrichment opportunities for U.S. military families-with a focus on children experiencing loss, serious injury or related anxiety or fear-through partnerships with unique recreational and educational programs.

The overriding policy of The Blewitt Foundation is that every military family member who participates in a Foundation activity will do so free of charge, with all expenses paid, including travel. Find our more at www.theblewittfoundation.org/